Reversible strut for brake beams



June 12, 1928. v 1,673,159

T. E. RODMAN REVERSIBLE STRUT FOR BRAKE BEAMS Filed April 16, 1926 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 REVERSIBLE STRUT FOR BRAKE BEAMS Filed April 16, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 in" i i 6 ""L... W jgllllmlllfl" 7 VIHIW Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. RODMAN, OF GLENGOE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE BRADFORD PATENTS CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Application filed April 16, 1926. Serial No. 102,460.

The present invention relates to trussed brake beams for railway cars, having reversible struts.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of strut capable of a limited rotation on its longitudinal axis, whereby the brake lever may be tilted to one side or the other as the particular location of the beam may require; to provide improved means for locking the strut in either position; and to provide locking means of substantial strength, not requiring the use of bolts or pins extending through the strut.

These and any other objects hereinafter appearing are attained by the structure hereinafter particularly described in the body of this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a brake beam having the improved reversible strut.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the strut.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of adjacent portions of the compression member and strut and connecting parts, the section being on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of said parts taken on line 55 of Fig. 41-.

Fig. 6 is a view of the sleeve viewed from the upper side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain parts, taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

The usual form of railway car brake beams is that shown in Figure 1, which comprises a compression member 1 and a tension, member 2 secured together adjacent .their outer ends in any suitable manner, as by the nuts 4 screwed on the ends of the tension member and bearing against the brake heads 5. In the form shown, a hollow tubular strut 6 separates the compression member and the tension member at points substantially equi-distant from their respective ends. The head end 8 of the strut is of circular section, shaped to it snugly within the bosom of the compression mem ber and having a shoulder 9 overlapping the flanges of the compression member. A lug 10 fits an aperture or recess 11 in the web of the compression member 1 which may be of channel bar .or any other suitable rolled or pressed structural steel shape.

A sleeve 12 secures the strut to the compression member and has apertures 13 and 14: through its opposite sides, the aperture 13 being of sufficient diameter to permit passing the strut therethrough, but the aperture 14 is smaller, so that its edges, overlap and engage the shoulder 9. The sleeve is shaped to embrace the compression member and its longitudinal boreis of such depth that, with the strut in place therein, the sleeve may be slid along the compression member. A wedge 15, driven between the compression member and the sleeve, serves to draw the lug 10 into the recess 11 and lock the parts together. The lip 16 at the thin end of the wedge may be bent upwardly to secure the wedge after it has been driven home.

The cap 17 has a grooved seat 18 at one end to receive the tension member and a cupped seat at its other end to receive the strut. The cap has an arcuate recess 19 adjacent its periphery adapted to receive the lug 20 projecting from the collar 21 on the strut. This recess and lug are shaped to allow and limit the rotation of the strut. A split cotter key 21 may be employed to hold the cap on the strut before the tension member is in place.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A brake beam comprising a compression member, a tension member, and a reversible strut extending between said members, a shoulder on said strut near one of said members, and means embracing said shoulder and an adjacent portion of said one member, for securing said strut, said embracing means having an aperture through which said strut and said shoulder may be inserted and having in its opposite side an opening to admit the body of said strut but not said shoulder.

2. A brake beam comprising a compression member having a recess therein intermediate its ends. a tension member, and a reversible strut extending between said members, a pin extending from the end of said strut and seated in said recess, a shoulder on said strut near one of said members, means embracing said shoulder and. an adjacent "portion of said one member, and a wedge for securing said strut to said one member.

3. Abrake beam. comprising a compression member, a tension member, a reversible trut extending between adjacent interior sides of said members, a shoulder on said strut near one of said members, a sleeveernhaving a longitudinal channel' therein, a

strut having one end shaped to rotatably fit Within said channel, a transversely projecting shoulder on said strut,-a sleeve embracing said compression member. and shoulder, and a wedge between said sleeve and compression member for securing said strut.

6. In a brake beam, a compression member having a longitudinal channel therein, a

strut having one end formed to rotatably fit within said channel and having aprojecting shoulder near said end, a sleeve having a longitudinal bore through which said compression member may be passed, and having in onelside an opening shaped to permit said strut to be inserted therethroughyan d having in its opposite side a smaller opening toadmit the body of said strut but not said projecting shoulder, said strut having a lug on its end and said compression member having in its web "a seat for said rlug, and a wedge between said compression member s and sleeve adapted to draw said lug into said seat and lock the parts together. i

7. A brake beam'comprising a compression member, a tension member, a reversible strut extending between said vmembers, a sho'ulderon the strut adjacent said compression member, a sleeve embracing said shoulder and said compression member, said sleeve having apertures on its opposite sides, one of said apertures being of sufiicient diameter to permit said shoulder to pass and the other of said apertures being ofinsufiioient diameter to permit said shoulder to pass, and a Wedge cooperating with said sleeve for securing the strut to the compression member.

' Signed at Chicago this 18th day ofApril, 1926;

' THOMAS .E. RODMAN. 

